Rugby League: League losers look ahead to brighter future

CHORLEY and Blackpool, demoted from the Rugby League at the end of last season, are joining Nottingham in agreeing to be part of a new Conference competition, writes Dave Hadfield.

'We still believe we have a legal case against the expulsions,' Lindsay Hoyle, the Chorley chairman, said. 'We are hopeful that an amicable solution has been worked out. We prefer to think of the Conference League as a new-style third division.'

The 10-metre offside rule, introduced as an experiment midway through the last English season, has been adopted worldwide by the game's International Board. The board has also decided to allow 'trial by video' for international matches and has been discussing the format for the centenary World Cup in Britain in 1995.

John Connolly, the British referee, is to take two Tests between the CIS and France in Moscow later this month.

John Gallagher, the former All Black full-back who has played only a handful of first- team matches for Leeds over the last two seasons, is negotiating to join London Crusaders.

The doctor who examined Martin Offiah's shoulder, which was dislocated in Sydney at the weekend, said that Offiah could be fit within three or four weeks.